Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-02-15

under such circumstances, we be-
lieved would be not only un-Demo-
cratic but dangerous to our free
American institutions. We would
not be understood as intending to i'm
pugn the motives or integrity of any
member who went into caucus. We
disclaim any such intentions. We
simply mean to place on record our
condemnation of the practice to which
we have alluded and which has been
resorted to in order to secure Mr..
Camden's denomination. We think
no caucus should have been held, or
at least no nomination should have
been attempted by caucus until n
sufficient number had consented to go
into the caucus to be able to elect
whoever might be nominated. We
are satisfied that large majority of
the Democrats of the State are OPP
posed to the reelection Of Mr.. Cam
den, and it is well known that a con-
siderable number of the members who
entered this caucus we're not in favor
of his nomination, but the workers"
for Mr.. Camden, by persistent mis-
representation as to our position and
intentions, and through a misappre-
hension, as we believe, on the part of
many of those voters who were not
favorable to Mr.. Camden, they were
induced to record their votes for him
in caucus, it being a part of the plan
of the managers to make it appear in
this way that thirty-five out of the
fifty Democrats were for him, when in
fact but for their Misrepresentation
and misrepresentation he would have
had but small majority of the Dem
ocrats of the Legislature, notwith-
standing the improper methods he
had used.
80 Now few words as to our mo-
tive in presenting you the list of
names contained in our former COM
munication. We are not willing to
vote for Mr.. Camden for the reasons
above briefly set forth, but there are
number of good and true Democrats
in the State for whom we think all the
Democrats of the Legislature can con-
sistently vote for United States SEN
ator, and whose election would reflect
credit on this State and unite and
harmonic the Democratic party. In
perfect good faith we presented to
YOU 4 number of such names as &C.
cured to us, in the hopes that you
would meet us in the spirit of COM
promise, and that the result might be
the election of some one satisfactory
to all.
"Our action cannot be construed
rs debating to the majority, but was
token simply to show that we are
not seeking to promote our own in
terest, or the ambition of any man or
set of men, but only what we believe
to be the interest and integrity of the
Democratic party and the good of our
common country.
eve are willing to yield our indi-
vidual preferences and we think that
it is neither dictation in us nor is it
asking too much to request that you
yield, to some extent at least, in the
same direction. You have thought
proper to repell our overtures and if
this is final On your. part, there is
nothing left us but to maintain our
positions.
That position having been taken
after mature reflection and due delib-
Grafton will be maintained without fall
tering, feeling sure that our action
will be approved by all true and
thoughtful friends Of the Democratic
party and our country.
[Signcdl
" Dan. B. Lucas, John j. Chipley, B.
w. Price, R. p. Chew, S. l.. Flour
noy, VIM. II. McClung, J. NJ. Sy-
denstricker, Rufus Switzer, A. S.
Pugh, Geo. E. Price, b. S. Cham
bers, G. w. Kinsley," (the latter
absent on Penitentiary Commit
tee.)